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The second edition of Terra Sancta Organ Festival presents a Prelude in Italy (August 25, 2015), an Autumn Season (September 18 – October 30, 2015) in Jordan, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Palestine and a Winter Season (January 24 – February 7, 2016) in Syria and Lebanon.
The Terra Sancta Organ Festival 2015/2016 opens on Aug. 22, 2015 with a Prelude at the Basilica of San Piero a Grado in Pisa (Italy) to honour the benefactors, who donated the new organ “Puccini”, to be installed at the Memorial of Moses on Mount Nebo in Jordan. The same organ is played at the concert in Amman on September 18: although small and portable, this instrument is currently the only pipe organ present in Jordan.
The Autumn Season (September 18 – October 30) includes two main events: the first in the Levant – which comprises the four concerts of the Organ & Music Festival of Rhodes (Greece) and the concert in Larnaca (on the only pipe organ existing on the island of Cyprus) – and the second in the Holy Land itself, with seventeen concerts throughout Israel and Palestine (Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Nazareth, Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Emmaus El-Qubeibeh).
The Winter season (January 24 – February 7, 2016) takes place in Syria and Lebanon: together with Jordan, these areas are classified, in the religious organization of the Custody of The Holy Land, as being part of the “Region of St. Paul”. In Syria, the concerts take place in our parish church of St. Anthony in Damascus, even as a sign of solidarity with the Christians who remain in their homes and in their churches despite the difficult situation created by the war.
In collaboration with the Notre Dame University – School of Music in Lebanon we have created an independent festival, SOL: Semain de l’Orgue au Liban (Lebanese Pipe Organ Week) with five concerts in Beirut and neighbouring regions (see www.solfestival.org).
The criteria for choosing the musicians who participate in the Terra Sancta Organ Festival are different, but they are linked by two features: skill and willingness to undergo a strenuous tour.
22 August
PISA – Basilica of S. Piero a Grado – 7 pm
Antonio Galanti was born in Volterra (Pisa – Italy) and he studied at the Florence Conservatory. He won the first prize in the “VII Concours Suisse de l’Orgue” (Switzerland 1989) and in the “XXXI Festival Musica Antiqua” (Belgium, 1994). Between 1989 and 1999, he taught organ in different Italian Conservatories.
Since 1999 he has been teaching at the Alessandria Conservatory as professor of Harmony, Counterpoint, Fugue and Composition. Since 2005 he has been honorary Ministerial inspector of the historical organs in the Provinces of Pisa and Livorno (Italy). He has played in Italy, France, Switzerland, Austria, ex-Yugoslavia, Malta, Germany, Belgium, Poland and Ukraine.
22 August
PISA – Basilica of S. Piero a Grado – 7 pm
Andrea Lagi was born in Follonica (Grosseto, Italy) on June 7, 1982. He has participated in various master classes for brass with Rex Martin, Andrea Dell’Ira, Andrea Conti, Giancarlo Parodi. He has collaborated with various Italian orchestras as the “Città di Grosseto” Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. He has played under the direction of conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Daniel Oren, Federico Maria Sardelli, Alexander Sotonikov, Claudio Abbado.
In addition to classical studies he approaches the study of jazz and took part in several seminars of jazz including Marco Tamburini, Nico Gori, Gianluigi Trovesi, Enrico Rava, Jeff Ballard, Billy Drummond.
18 September
AMMAN – Church of the Terra Sancta College
Mako Kusagaya was born in Tokio, Japan. After graduating from the Musashino-School of Music in Tokio, Kusagaya continued her studies at the State School for Music and Performing Arts in Stuttgart, Germany. Thereafter she completed her degree in Church Music and Concert Organist at the University of Arts in Berlin, Germany.
Mako Kusagaya has released a CD of organ music recorded on location at the Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Church in Arnstadt (Germany) and at the St.-Matthias-Church in Berlin. Aside from giving lectures on the organ and organ playing in Germany, Japan and other countries, Mako Kusagaya regularly performs in concert throughout the world.
18 September
AMMAN – Terra Sancta College – 7.30 pm
The Fountain of Love Choir is a Jordanian choir founded during Christmas time in 2002, to perform Christmas carols. The Choir includes at present around 80 members both singers and musicians of different age groups and from different churches, including Muslims, all together seeking the united purpose of glorifying Christ and honoring our Holy Mother Mary through chanting.
The choir’s repertoire includes western and eastern classical, Byzantine and modern chants and since it’s foundation, the choir has given and animated various concerts and masses in Jordan and abroad (Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, France, Germany and Belgium). The music director and conductor of the choir is Toaama Jbara, who has recently composed most of the first Jordanian oratorio called ”Jesus the Fountain of Love” with Nader Awwad, Aws Marji, Mohamd Rasheed, Shadi Kfouf, Faiz Minas, Ramzi Basil.
25 September
EMMAUS EL QUBEIBEH – Terra Santa Monastery – 4 pm
Born in Germany, now living in Israel, Gunther Martin Goettsche has worked as organist and choir conductor in Aalen/Wuerttemberg and Braunschweig. From 1992 to 2013 he was Director of the “Schluechtern Church Music Academy”. From 2008 to 2013 he was additional teacher of Organ improvisation at the “Hochschule fuer Kirchenmusik Heidelberg”. Since 2013 he is First Organist of the Lutheran Redeemer Church in Jerusalem.
Goettsche works as composer and arranger of organ and choir works for several German Publishers. With his wife Heidrun (soprano) Gunther Goettsche has performed duo recitals in numerous German towns as well as in Israel, Italy and the USA.
25 September
EMMAUS EL QUBEIBEH – Terra Santa Monastery – 4 pm
Heidrun Goettsche, soprano voice, has worked as voice teacher at the “Hochschule fuer Musik” Frankfurt and the “Schluechtern Church music academy” and from 2010 to 2012 at the Catholic Dome in Fulda, Germany.
She has performed numerous concerts as lyric soprano in Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Estland, USA and Israel. Heidrun founded “Voce libera” (System of voice courses, method Cornelius Reid) and she is member of the German woman sextet “Allegria-Vokalensemble”. Heidrun Goettsche currently is voice teacher at the Schmidt Girls College in Jerusalem.
27 September
RHODES – St. Francis Church – 8.30 pm
After various church music activities in Cologne in 1999 Matthias Giesen became organist at the “Augustiner-Chorherrenstift“of St. Florian / Upper Austria (Bruckner organ). Since autumn 2003 he has been working there as music director. He conducts there the “Schola Floriana”, the choir St. Florian and the Altomonte Orchestra. Since October 2003 he gives lectures on music theory, analysis and aural training at the Music University in Vienna.
In addition to several radio and television recordings, an active concert career has taken him to almost every European country, as well as to North Africa, Russia, Israel, Mexico and Australia. Since 2005 he has been curator of the organ concerts of the “Bruckner Festival Linz” and was also the organizer of the International Anton Bruckner Organ Competition in Linz / St. Florian in the same year. Since 2006 he is, together with Klaus Laczika, the artistic director of the “Brucknertage St. Florian festival.”
27 September – 4 October
RHODES –– Church of St. Francis and of Our Lady of Victory
Organ & Music Festival Rhodes
Chris Parakevopoulos (Greece), artistic director & organist
Chris Paraskevopoulos is a very talented Greek organist. As one of the few organists to be found in Greece, since 1991 he has organized a series of organ concerts in various churches in Athens and other cities of Greece. He is vice president and co-founder of the “Friends of the Organ Association,” which aims to install new organs in churches and and ensure its maintenance. He is also the artistic director of the music festival that has taken place since 2009 in the church of St. Francis in Rhodes. In Greece he is a well known and much appreciated teacher of the organ, at the Philippos Nakas conservatory in Athens.
Chris Paraskevopoulos was born in Athens. His musical education began early under the tutelage of the renowned piano teacher Mrs. Evangelia Hasapladakis.
He is a graduate of the Athens National Conservatory in pianoforte from Kate Truli’s class of 1994 and also in composition from Spyros Klapsis’ class of 1997. He is also an LRSM recipient in organ music and a former student of Athens’ Concert Hall organist Mr. Nicholas Kynaston.
He has organized a series of organ concerts in various churches in Athens and other cities of Greece and has given many concerts in the Athens German Lutheran Church as one of its organists where, since 2012, he has been its main Organist and Director of Music. He has performed in various other churches and concert halls in Greece, such as, the First Greek Evangelical Church of Athens, St Paul’s Anglican Church of Athens, St Paul’s Catholic Church in Piraeus, the Sacred Heart of the Saviour Greek Orthodox Church, the Chanea Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the Athens National Opera Centre, the Athens Concert Hall, and the Parnassus Concert Hall. He has also played in organ concerts with other artists from the National Opera, the National Radio Broadcasting Company, the Athens Chamber Opera, the wind section of the National Orchestra of Athens, the Athens State Symphony Orchestra and Choir, H2O Opera and other musical groups and organizations.
He has taken part in two Organ Festivals at the Athens Concert Hall organized by the well-known organist Mr. Nicholas Kynaston. He is the Artistic Music Director of the Annual Music Festival of Rhodes that takes place in the Catholic Church of St. Francis, Rhodes, where he gives organ recitals and organizes other musical events throughout the year. He visits Rhodes frequently to play for the liturgies, organize the choirs and assess the condition of both organs.
He has given recitals in the church All Souls, Langham Place in London at the International Organ Series Festival, in the church of St. Saviour in Jerusalem at the International Festival “October Organ Series” and in St. Francis Church in Rhodes since 2009.
In 2008 the choir “Musica Sacra,” which performs sacred choir music from the Renaissance and Baroque periods, was founded and is conducted by him. This choir is unique in all of Greece in performing only this kind of music.
He recorded two CDs in 2007. One for organ music entitled “A Mighty Fortress is our God” and the other “Christmas Melody.” He has been invited to record a new disc with organ and choir music.
In Greece he is a well known and much appreciated teacher of the organ, at the Philippos Nakas conservatory and also gives singing and voice coaching lessons at the St Andrew’s Byzantine Music School.
3 October
LARNACA – St. Mary of Graces- 7. pm
Christophe Guida is a French organist born December 15, 1982 in Marseille. He is currently the titular organist of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Marseille. As a soloist, Christophe Guida has performed on the organs of Albi, Saint-Malo, Roquevaire, Bordeaux, Tours, Marseille, Fréjus, Monteux, Saint-Maximin, Alpe d’Huez, Megève, Carcassonne.
He has also accompanied soprano Barbara Hendricks with the Bouches du Rhône Mastery. In Paris, Guida has been heard playing at Notre Dame, La Madeleine, Saint Germain des Prés, Sainte Clotilde. Abroad, he regularly gives concerts in Russia, Germany, Italy. Christophe Guida is currently artistic director of the Festival Cap’Orgue (Eglise Saint Laurent Capelette, Marseille).
3 October
LARNACA – St. Mary of Graces- 7:30 pm
Melanie Plumley is a freelance Organist & Choir Director now resident near Limassol in Cyprus. Prior to moving to Cyprus, she played mostly in the London and S E England area. For over 22 years from May 1989, she was music director of Emmanuel Church, Holcombe in N W England and retains strong connections with Lancashire.
In Cyprus, she is organist at the British army garrison at Episkopi and for the Royal Air Force at Akrotiri. As well as playing, Melanie has a close interest in organ conservation and for many years was a trustee of the British Institute of Organ Studies (BIOS) with whom she is still Publicity Officer.
6 October
TEL AVIV – JAFFA – St. Peter’s Church – 7 pm
7 October
NAZARETH – Basilica of the Annunciation – 6 pm
8 October
JERUSALEM – Church of St. Saviour – 6 pm
9 October
BETHLEHEM –Church of St. Catherine at Nativity – 6 pm
Peter Latona is the Music Director for the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Washington, D.C.) the pre-eminent Marian shrine of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States and is dedicated to providing the highest standard in sacred music within the context of the Roman Catholic Liturgy. An award-winning organist, Dr. Latona performs in the U.S. and in Europe.
As the conductor of the Choir of the Basilica, he released numerous recordings of sacred choral music, presented concerts in the United States and abroad. Among the recently completed recording projects is Tu es Petrus: A Papal Tribute in Music which commemorates the Papacy of Pope Benedict XVI and celebrates the Petrine ministry of Pope Francis.
13 October
TEL AVIV – JAFFA – St. Peter’s Church – 7 pm
14 October
NAZARETH – Basilica of the Annunciation – 6 pm
15 October
JERUSALEM – Church of St. Saviour – 6 pm
16 October
BETHLEHEM –Church of St. Catherine at Nativity – 6 pm
A recipient of The Grand Prix Bach and Audience Prize at the 2006 Bach Organ Competition of Lausanne, Pavao Mašić (Šibenik, Croatia, 1980) actively pursues a successful career as concert organist and harpsichordist. Since 1999, he has been the Main Organist at the Church of St. Mark on the Upper town in Zagreb, continuing St. Mark’s rich tradition of organ playing that dates back to 1359.
He often appears in recitals and with orchestras performing at important concert venues throughout Europe and Russia (Moscow, Sankt Petersburg, Basel, Lausanne, Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Freiburg, Zaragoza, Porto). More than 20 important international and national awards testify the high quality of his artistic work.
20 October
TEL AVIV – JAFFA – St. Peter’s Church – 7 pm
21 October
NAZARETH – Basilica of the Annunciation – 6 pm
22 October
JERUSALEM – Church of St. Saviour – 6 pm
23 October
BETHLEHEM –Church of St. Catherine at Nativity – 6 pm
Pier Damiano Peretti, born 1974 in Vicenza (Italy). From 2002 to 2009 he taught at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater, Hannover. In 2009 he was appointed professor for organ at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna.
Award winner of international organ competitions (Bologna, Pretoria, Innsbruck, Toulouse, Hamburg, 1st prize St Albans 1999) Peretti has a busy concert schedule that takes him all over Europe, the Far East and Canada. His own compositions, from pieces for and with organ up to chamber and vocal music mainly revolve around spiritual subjects. In 2015, the Austrian government awarded him the “Outstanding artist award” for his mass “Mane nobiscum”.
27 October
TEL AVIV – JAFFA – St. Peter’s Church – 7 pm
28 October
NAZARETH – Basilica of the Annunciation – 6 pm
29 October
JERUSALEM – Church of St. Saviour – 6 pm
30 October
BETHLEHEM –Church of St. Catherine at Nativity – 6 pm
The Romanian organist, conductor and composer Marcel Octav Costea teaches at the National University of Music of Bucharest and is the Kapellmeister at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Bucharest. He has given concerts in Romania, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Belgium.
Costea is also the founder of the ensemble Musica Sacra (1990) and, together with Iancu Văduva (trumpet) and Dorin Gliga (oboe),of the Ethos Trio(1997). The Trio has released two albums of baroque music. Costea is also composer of sacred and secular music, music for theatre and film scores.
Church of St. Antony
24 January at 19:00
27 January at 18:00
Aghiad Mansour is a Syrian organist. Born in 1977, he studied at the Higher Institute of Music in Damascus with Alexey Schmitov, George Ammon, Carine Clemant and he is currently professor of harpsichord and organ at the same institute. Aghiad has performed concerts mainly in Syria and, in particular, at the Opera of Damascus, where a monumental organ of the German company Aug Laukhuff, is installed. Aghiad helped build the organ in 2000 and today he is the official maintenance technician of the instrument having trained for the role with Hans Laukhuff and Wolfgang Braun in Weikersheim and having completed a series of work experiences in different German cities. Thanks to his diploma and his experience as sound designer, Aghiad Mansour is also in charge of the recording studio of the Opera of Damascus.
27 January 2016 at 18:00
Damascus – Church of St. Antony – Salhieh
Missak Baghboudarian, conductor of the Syrian National Symphony Orchestra since 2003. Born in Damascus, Missak made his first debut in December of 1994 with the SNSO then he studied conducting in Italy from 1997 till 2002 with Julius Kalmar and he took part in some master-classes with H. Handt, D. Pascu, M. Beck, Carl St. Clair, Jorma Panula and Riccardo Muti.
He has conducted several concerts with Florence Amadeus Orchesra in various Tuscany cities (Florence, Chianciano, Vicchio, Poggibonsi, etc.). He has also conducted the Bruno Maderna Symphony Orchestra of Forlì, the Hans Swarowsky Orchestra of Milan, the Orchestra of the National Academy of Bucharest, the New Phiharmonic Orchestra of Sofia, the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra of Dominican Republic, the Grunbunden Kammerphilharmonie, Bilkent Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra of Algeria.
He conducted the SNSO in several concerts in Syria (Damascus, Aleppo, Lattakia, Homs) and abroad (Lebanon – Bahrain – Jordan – Oman – U. A. E. – Turkey – Italy and Algeria).
He worked with international soloists like Armen Babakhanian, Galina Vartcheva, Ghazwan Zerkly, Kinan Azmeh, Raji Sarkis, Daniele Giorgi, Bassam Nashawati, Gloria Scalchi, Riccardo Savdiford….
On 2004 he had the honor to conduct the SNSO in the opening concert of the Damascus Opera House and at the opening and closing ceremony of “Damascus Arab Capital of Culture 2008” in the presence of H.E. the President of the Syrian Arab Republic.
In 2006 he participated with The Orchestra of the High Institute of Music in Young-Euro-Classic festival at the Konzerthaus Berlin.
In 2010 he conducted “Le Nozze di Figaro” the first Opera produced by the Damascus Opera House.
In 1998 founder member of the “Cantiere Musicale di Toscana” Association – Italy.
From 1998 – 2006 Coordinator of the “Estate Regina” festival – Montecatini Terme – Italy.
In 2010 he received a Medal of Honor “Stella della Solidarietà Italiana” order of “Commendatore” from the President of Italy for his efforts and achievements in developing the musical cooperation projects between Syria and Italy.
27 January 2016
Damascus, Church of St. Antony, Salhieh – 19:00
Manar Khweis, a soprano singer born in Damascus in1989.
Manar began studying Opera with Professor Arax Chekidjian.
Manar then joined a BA program at the Higher Institute of Music in Damascus in which she graduated in 2015.
Manar has participated in many concerts as a soloist with:
•Syrian National Symphony Orchestra “Le Donne di Mozart Concert”,
“In memory of the composer Komitas” led by Missak Baghboudarian.
•“Damascus Baroque Soloists” supervised by Dr.Nabeel Alaswad and Mr. Omar Abou Afach.
•Organist Aghiad Mansour, Pipe organ concert at The Damascus Opera House.
•Solo Concert with Maestro Missak Baghboudarian as Pianist at The Damascus Opera House.
Manar also attended workshops by:
• Stefano Meo, Silvana Froli chiocciola the Damascus Opera House.
27 January 2016
Damascus, Church of St. Antony, Salhieh – 19:00
“It is not only beautiful singing and dancing, it is a real musical theatre. It is hard to believe that such a choir can exist in the Arabic area. It is really an exciting performance of wonderful concerts.”
-Commented BBC in regards to the chamber choir of the Higher Institute of Music (HIM).
The Higher Institute of Music was founded in 2001 by founder Solhi Alwadi and Victor Babenko, former dean and musical director of the Institute. The choir is formed by students and graduated musicians from the HIM with different specialties.
The group of professionals have become first professional choir in Syria.Within the first few year of being a professioinal choir, the choir has performed many concerts in Damascus, other Syrian cities and abroad: Lebanon, Jordan, U.A.E. Armenia and Algeria.
Welcome to the video and news section of our site.
Here you will find a selection of photos, videos and news from the Festival and from the Holy Land.
Watch more videos on our YouTube channel, listen to the sound of the organs on our SoundCloud channel, stay updated thanks to the media of the Custody of the Holy Land.
Festival Pictures
Press Release; The Terra Sancta Organ Festival Autumn Season 2015
The Terra Sancta Organ Festival
The Terra Sancta Organ Festival in Syria and Lebanon
CTS website (in English, Italiano, Français, Português, Español, Russian, Hebrew, Arabic)
www.custodia.org
Terrasanta.Net (in English, Italiano, Français, Português, Español)
www.terrasanta.net
Franciscan Media Center(in English, Italiano, Français, Português, Español, Arabic)
http://fmc-terrasanta.org
ATS Pro Terra Sancta (English)
http://www.proterrasancta.org/en